2016 Husker Camp Countdown

[Mavric]

14 - Stanley Morgan

6-1 | 200 | Sophomore | Wide receiver

What a freshman season Morgan had. With 25 catches for 304 yards and three touchdowns, Morgan is in line for a bigger role in 2016 as he battles with a trio of seniors for playing time. Our take: Morgan becomes the No. 2 receiver on the team, and maybe NU’s top target in the red zone, where his hands and decent size should be an asset. Morgan isn’t afraid to be a tough blocker, either. He might be one of the most complete Husker wideouts in recent memory by the time he is done in Lincoln.

OWH

 

[Mavric]

13 - Chris Jones

6-0 | 185 | Junior | Cornerback

He secured the starting cornerback job halfway through the 2015 season, and he enters 2016 as one of the two expected starters. Jones, a three-star recruit out of Jacksonville, physically challenges receivers at the line of scrimmage and has shown good closing speed when he gets a step behind. Jones can still be a work in progress when it comes to confidence, but he’s a good tackler and changes direction well. If Nebraska’s pass defense is to improve, Jones will be a big part of that improvement.

OWH

 

[Mavric]

12 - Michael Rose-Ivey

6-0 | 230 | Senior | Linebacker

It hasn’t been an easy road for the fifth-year player from Kansas City, Missouri. Injuries have robbed him of 1½ seasons at NU, and he enters his senior year having played in just 19 career games. But Rose-Ivey has good instincts for a linebacker, and he’s in the best shape of his career. When healthy, he is a sure tackler — arguably Nebraska’s best among linebackers — and has a knack for finding the ball carrier. His success this year will be key for NU’s defense.

OWH

 

[Mavric]

11 - Dylan Utter

6-1 | 295 | Senior | Center

A fire hydrant from Papillion-La Vista, Utter will move from guard to center. A member of the 2012 class of walk-ons that produced nine scholarship players, Utter has always been a tough, high-effort guy. He understands the offense and what offensive line coach Mike Cavanaugh wants to accomplish. How well Utter will hold up against 3-4 nose tackles remains to be seen. He’ll give up a few pounds there.

OWH

 

[Mavric]

10 - Josh Banderas

6-3 | 240 | Senior | Linebacker

Mark Banker and the revamped Nebraska defensive staff had Banderas man the middle last season, and Banderas registered 61 tackles (seven for losses) despite missing four of the Huskers’ first six games because of a groin injury. The best stretch came when the Lincoln Southwest graduate totaled 39 tackles against Minnesota, Northwestern, Purdue and Michigan State after coming back. He offers versatility, both with his ability to play the run and pass, and how he can handle the other linebacker positions if necessary. Banderas will be expected to become more of a leader among the Blackshirts as a senior, helped by already playing 34 career games (19 starts).

OWH

 

[Mavric]

9 - Devine Ozigbo

5-11 | 230 | Sophomore | Running back

Ozigbo was perhaps one of the bigger surprises in 2015, when the Texan found work as a true freshman despite a crowded depth chart at running back. Ozigbo had to feel good going into the offseason after getting 21 carries and picking up 87 of the Huskers’ season-best 326 rushing yards vs. UCLA in the Foster Farms Bowl. That likely tipped the hand of the NU staff and how it sees his future value.

Not the fastest or flashiest of the Husker backs, but Ozigbo runs with good power and a nose for the first-down marker. He also lends value as a receiver out of the backfield. He picked up where he left off in spring practice, with offensive coordinator Danny Langsdorf saying: “He’s really doing kind of everything well.”

OWH

 

[Mavric]

8 - Kevin Maurice

6-3 | 300 | Senior | Defensive tackle

Nebraska has to rebuild the interior of its defensive line, and find somebody to anchor and lead an entire four-man front that has been hit hard by departures. That will require Maurice taking as much as he can handle, which might be some heavy lifting for somebody with just one career start.

But Maurice’s biggest contributions came as a junior, when he had 21 tackles and caused two fumbles. That was with help from Maliek Collins, Vincent Valentine, Kevin Williams and Greg McMullen, all of whom have since left the program. He showed his best at Illinois with a career-high eight tackles, then was sidetracked by a foot injury coming out of that game that forced him to miss the next three.

OWH

 

[Mavric]

7 - Freedom Akinmoladun

6-4 | 255 | Sophomore | Defensive end

Akinmoladun watched an opportunity fall into his lap last season, and now here comes Part II. His four starts and action in 11 games at defensive end have prepared Akinmoladun to potentially be one of the players who step up across the front four, which will be one of the bigger question marks as NU preseason camp begins. Akinmoladun is still transforming from long and lean and a redshirt season spent at tight end, so he continues to be molded into what the Huskers need him to become. But there’s raw ability and tools that can make him a natural pass-rushing threat, which he flashed last season with a team-high 4-1/2 sacks and four quarterback hurries. His freshman season was interrupted by a knee injury that cost him two games.

OWH

 

[Mavric]

6 - Cethan Carter

6-4 | 240 | Senior | Tight end

It’s hard to predict what kind of reception number might be out there for his senior season, just because of the talent and experience that Nebraska boasts at receiver. But the Huskers obviously know they have a huge threat with Carter, who posted his best career numbers as a junior with 24 catches for 329 yards and two touchdowns after he was suspended for the first two games. Carter was at his best late in the season, catching a combined 10 passes against Rutgers, Iowa and UCLA — and adding runs of 32 and 16 yards. The biggest of his contributions aren’t limited to the passing game, however, because the rugged tight end also can be a blocking force when the Huskers run the football.

OWH

 

[Mavric]

5 - Nick Gates

6-5 | 290 | Sophomore | Offensive tackle

Gates opened the offseason as Nebraska’s top left tackle — a role he’d set his sights on before arriving at NU. It was his mission. He achieved it rather quickly, too. Credit Gates’ talent and determination for that. This coaching staff repeatedly has had glowing reviews of the Las Vegas product since taking over the program. The potential is unlimited, they say. Gates did struggle to adapt to the position switch at the start of spring ball — he played right tackle as a redshirt freshman last year.

But he’s settled in now. Gates can bring some tenacity to the position. A little bit of edge. Some added toughness. He comes across as a humble and reserved guy in conversations with reporters. But in the trenches, Gates wants to be an enforcer. He’s shown that kind of attitude at times on the field. As he gets more comfortable in his role, look for his on-field personality to reveal itself. He’s on track to become one of the best linemen to play at Nebraska in recent years.

OWH

 

[Mavric]

4 - Joshua Kalu

6-1 | 190 | Junior | Cornerback

For a moment, the pass from Wisconsin’s Joel Stave looked destined for an open receiver, who was one broken tackle from a go-ahead score in the fourth quarter. But then entered Kalu. He closed in an instant and stretched his right hand to bat the pass away. It was a notable moment for Kalu, who’d lost a couple of battles earlier in that 2015 game while also getting whistled for a pass interference a few series earlier. Yet he kept battling, kept hustling, kept working. That’s the mentality required of a cornerback.

Kalu finished strong last year, playing nickel and corner. He had the second-most tackles on the team (75) and tied for the most pass breakups (seven). He intercepted three passes. But beyond the stats, Kalu gained confidence in roles that he hadn’t logged much game experience in. He’ll be relied on even more this fall. As a playmaker. As an example-setter. As a source of positivity. For this defensive system to operate effectively, it needs quality cornerback play. Kalu must deliver.

OWH

 

[Mavric]

3 - Jordan Westerkamp

6-0 | 200 | Senior | Wide receiver

What will Westerkamp do next? He has the Hail Mary game-winner, the behind-the-back catch and several one-handed receptions (including one last year when he absorbed a vicious hit). His Husker highlight reel has countless clips. Teams keep making efforts to take him away — and Westerkamp still influences the action.

He has at least one catch in 26 straight games. His 65 receptions last year were the most in NU history by a receiver. He needs 52 catches and 741 receiving yards to break both career marks at Nebraska (set by Kenny Bell in 2014).

OWH

 

[Mavric]

2 - Nate Gerry

6-2 | 220 | Senior | Safety

What a difference a year makes. Gerry admitted he was unsure of himself last season, struggling to apply his playmaking traits within a new defense. The principles he’d previously learned didn’t apply. Everything changed. And it took Gerry some time to adjust. He was flat-footed on tackle attempts. He dropped a key interception against Wisconsin. He just wasn’t himself — despite leading the team with 79 tackles.

But Gerry enters this preseason camp with a renewed optimism now that he’s more comfortable with his role. There were times in Thursday’s first practice when Gerry was stepping into the right spot — reacting to pre-snap alignment changes — before defensive coordinator Mark Banker could offer his pointers. If Gerry can carry that self assurance into the fall, he’ll likely be the game-changer NU needs. The once-hidden gem out of South Dakota has picked off nine passes and forced three fumbles in his career. He needs 55 tackles to enter the top 10 on Nebraska’s all-time chart. Gerry’s set to finish off a productive NU tenure with a bang.

OWH

 

[Mavric]

1 - Tommy Armstrong

6-1 | 220 | Senior | Quarterback

When he’s at his best — juking defenders with option fakes or firing perfectly placed long balls — Armstrong is capable of carrying a team such as Nebraska to the Big Ten title game. Problem is, Armstrong hasn’t been able to escape the costly mistake. He’s started 33 games at Nebraska — and he’s thrown 36 interceptions. His career completion percentage: 54 percent. But that is why he’s been so determined during the offseason. Armstrong’s watched all of the game tape he can get, trying his best to ingrain the playbook and prepare himself for the looks he’ll see from defenses. Identifying the high-percentage throws is the goal. That’s not easy when defenders are collapsing the pocket and you only have a couple seconds to decipher a coverage’s deceptions. But it is Armstrong’s goal: to be a better decision-maker.

OWH